Randy Wolf (1-1, 3.93) vs. Roy Oswalt (0-1, 4.26).
COMMENTS: What do you get when you don't take your opposing starter (and his 6.23 ERA) seriously? Or when he starts out the game by giving up two walks and a run-scoring single, takes 33 pitches to finish the inning, and stakes you to a three-run lead? Or when you bat the red-hot, MLB-leading hit streaker Matt Kemp SEVENTH in the lineup, so he's left in the on-deck circle at game's end, having watched James Loney and Russell Martin each strike out with the bases loaded?
You get a big, embarrassing loss.
We'll see if Wolf, who had one bad first inning in an otherwise decent outing last Friday, can overcome Oswalt, who looked spotty himself when we saw him pitch in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. With luck, Torre has figured out the error of his ways and elevated Kemp (who tripled with one out in the fourth, with the Dodgers down 4-3, but was left stranded on third) back in the lineup. The Astros may not be the pushover that our NL West opponents have been, but the short porch in left should provide some easy pickings for our potent bats, right (in other words, Manny shouldn't have been the only one to go yard yesterday)? Let's get cracking!
142 comments:
San Diego @ SF, scoreless through five, Zito is on the ropes with men at the corners and two out. Kevin Kouzmanoff is at the plate.
Zito escapes the jam. 0-0, on to the bottom of the sixth.
SD has six hits and no runs. Chris Young of the Padres has given up one hit through five frames.
SD 0, SF 0 through six
same at top of the 8th now.
booger! Where have you been, dude?
0-0. and Brian Wilson gets Brian Giles to strand the runner at second. On to the bottom of the 10th...
Jody Gerut was stranded on second with one out...
Bottom of the tenth in a tie ballgame, man on first with one out for the Giants.
This is tough, rooting for the Giants. Maybe I can root for this to be a forty-inning game instead.
Torres steals second. Still one out, and Eugenio Velez and his .111 average are up.
Dodgers have to win the next two.
I realize the Dodgers will lose many more games throughout the season, but if they can best a team 2 out of three or, in the case of a four game series, break even, then a first-place finish should be solid.
Gotta love the Booger.
I want Mr. Customer to tell us that the Dodgers will win tonight. Because, you know, the Customer is always right. Right?
Bengie Molina gets it done with two out in the tenth. SF 1, SD 0. That gives us a half-game more breathing room tonight...
I wonder if Dr. Geek and Mr. Customer are the same person.
Somewhere, Robert Louis Stevenson weeps.
Snakes beat the Rockies 2-0
That game between the Friars and Gints begs the following question: has Barry Zito finally figured it out?
Anyway, some match up info:
vs. Oswalt
Furcal - .364 .385 .545 .930 (1 BB, 2 K, 1 3B) - Nice
Hudson - .154 .154 .154 .308 (3 K, 0 BB, 0 XBH) - Ugly
Manny - No Record - Interesting
Ethier - .200 .333 .400 .733 (0 K, 1 BB, 1 2B) - Small Sample, but mediocre
Loney - .333 .286 .333 .619 (0 K, 0 BB, 0 XBH, 1 GIDP, 1 SF) - Weird line
Russell - .000 .143 .000 .143 (1 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP) - Very ugly
Kemp - .000 .000 .000 .000 (0 K) - only 1 PA
Blake - No Record
We basically need 8 Furcals tonight.
Rafael Furcal, SS
Orlando Furcal, 2B
Manny Furcal, LF
Andre Furcal, RF
James Furcal, 1B
Russell Furcal, C
Matt Furcal, CF
Casey Furcal, 3B
Randy Wolf, P
LOL @ Orel
Man, I thought Rafael Wolf was pitching tonight.
And Matty Kemp in the seven hole...again? Is there logic behind this? Someone needs to tell Joe the word is out on Kemp, lets not cheat him of PA's like he was last night.
I'm telling you. All Furcals is what we need.
Damn, Hudson is hotter than hot.
Well, looks like we only have 2 Furcals today.
I hate to keep hammering it home, but if Kemp's hitting in the 5 spot he's up there instead of Loney.
Wolf has his issues, but the guy can punch out a ton of guys without much velocity.
Well, Tejada appears to be off to his usual fast start.
Come on! Don't give up that weak stuff!
Seriously. Wolf is nasty when he is on.
Seems like Wolf is on tonight (knock on wood).
Perhaps Randy Furcal?
Ok. Russ took a swing on the second pitch. I like that.
Fire Joe Torre!
Was that a typical Furcal easy play error?
I don't know - I've got radio coverage only.
Keppinger is raking so far this year. Hopefully Randy can do something with him.
Clemens on the Astros broadcast looking fat!
and hi everybody! i hope we can do some damage to Oswalt tonight
Hey guys, I'm back, and it looks like I've just missed the Dodgers squandering runs in the first inning. We need O-Dog to reach and Manny to pop.
Well, at least Manny bats leadoff next inning.
Is Roy-O under orders to not swing?
Nice quick inning, Randy!
Hey all. Still 0-0? Come bats, lets get hot!
Dude this aflac question is too tough.
I like the pitch conservation Wolf. Now, lets see Manny send a message.
Oswalt reached back for that one.
All right, Andre!
i hate this stadium - every pop fly feels like a home run
Well, at least Kemp bats leadoff next inning.
Well Randy, ya grooved that one.
If Michaels didn't suck, that double would have been a home run. Wolf straight up hung that.
Randy ain't foolin anybody right now
How many have we LOB so far?
Well, he just made quick work of Pudge. Hopefully he just made 2 mistakes.
Michaels misses his drinkin buddy Pat Burrell
Randy's doing what is expected of him: 4Ks, 2ER through four innings.
We need to score some runs here.
That was too nasty.
cripes
Dude this is bad. How can this team not produce with runners on and 2 outs?
Yeesh. The LOB rate is killing me.
we clearly have used up all of our runs on the homestand. we can't buy a run here.
Well, at least we have Manny batting leadoff next inning.
I wouldn't say that Sax. We scored 5 yesterday.
YES DP!!!
4-6-3 and its Manny time
MANNYY!!! HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK!!
OUt of the entire stadium!
Oswalt is really reaching back when he pitches to Manny.
...and that's what he gets for it.
see, it's all about Manny. 2-1 'Stros.
Andre's going to hit a homer of his own...
Nice call, Sax
Ethier ties it up!!!! Anything you can do...
Back to Back jacks. And Ethier goes the other way.
Roy-O is actually throwing harder and getting hit harder.
Come on Jmes, make it Three!
Oops, ok, well, maybe not. Groundout.
I'm waiting for video of Manny's shot on Gameday.
Dudes, I SO CALLED the Ethier Home Run.
thanks for the props, MattyA
I'm heading out to the Hustler Casino as we speak
Okay gents, see you on the other side
Gameday posted it. Manny looked like a helicopter with that swing. Oswalt could only look back and admire.
CASEY!!!! 4-2 Blue crew!
Blake too! What an inning!
According to Gameday, Kemp was f'ed on that inside called strike 3.
Anyone else notice that Manny started swinging at that pitch them moment it left Oswalt's hand? He read that thing like a book.
Anyone else know the last time Oswalt let up 3 homers in a game, let alone a single inning?
Aaaaaaannnnddd heeeerrrreee come the Dodgers!
You can tell Roy was pissed. He snapped off 2 hooks on Wolf to strike him out
Steiner just said Valverde's not available tonight because of a strained calf from last night
That was a stirke to Berkman - what did Gameday say?
throw strikes!
Gameday suggests that the last pitch to Berkman was on the black.
91! didnt think he could get it up that high
Randy's curve isnt curving much tonight
Well, at least the Bison got to show off his arm. Too bad Randy couldn't hold the lead, because his count is way low.
Randy's curve isn't the problem, it is the slider/change.
Oswalt hadn't given up 3 homers in an inning until tonight
If Wolf gets a DP here, he should be good for the 8th.
good call, Ali!
Wow. The predictive powers of SOSG tonight.
Shall I predict Russell's first dinger of the year?
yes please!
the second inning of relief for Sampson - will it spell trouble?
In play, no out
In play, run(s)!
About time Loney!!
Gameday says the ump is calling a lot of inside strikes to RHB.
I hope that gets Loney going.
Damn, I hate when my predictions go wrong.
there ya go free james
That AB looked like Matt Kemp of old
Caballo wasn't having much luck picking up that ball. Loney could have gone for 3.
Alireza- youre right, Loney could have had a triple.
Martin and Kemp wouldn't have gotten him in those weak hits
Wow. Bellysario is setting up now?
Excuse me while I go throw up
Yeah. Torre is stupid. He could have kept Wolf in and made sure Berkman batted from his weaker side, but no.
fudge
Oh goodness Ronald. Next time you do that, we send you to the Outback Walter Silva was working at.
this game is pretty aggrivating.
I am shaking my head and my fist at this.
Damn you Belsario
So question. Who will be the closer and who will be pinch hitting?
Mmm.... I would hope a comeback is in order, but we really don't deserve this game.
Those Valverde hilights are hilarious
WHY SLAPPY?
This game has had a little of everything.
That was wonderful Juan!
Wow. Of all the ways to lead off an inning. A Juan Pierre pop up is not pretty. At least DeWitt is a HR threat.
Thank god we have Juan Pierre.
How many baserunners have the Dodgers left on today?
Not quite sure Penos. Gameday says 16, but that includes duplication.
Thanks Alireza.
Epale everyone!
just coming back home, finding out we're winning!
MY mistake :(
I wish you were right
I am thoroughly disgusted, particularly with the way Torre managed.
That was depressing
I'm going to cry into my beer now. Goodnight everyone.
where is hong-chi kuo in the eighth inning he hasnt pitched for a week?
Post-Game Thread is up.
Hey Sax,
i've been monitoring from a distance.
Hmmm, arm problems for Kuo? Just speculation on my part.
I don't think it's wise to have Belisario as set-up. He needs to acclimate to the big leagues.
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